Writing letters feels like a dead art, unless you're trying to terrorise the country's leadership. For over a decade, a single anonymous writer has managed to bypass digital dragnets by using old-school pen and paper to harass Australian public figures. They call themselves Scorpio or sometimes Bullit.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and New South Wales Police just went public with a massive joint investigation. They're trying to stop what they fear could be a dangerous escalation. Over 100 letters have landed on the desks of federal and state politicians, religious groups, and community leaders since 2015.
It's tempting to think of paper mail as a minor annoyance. That's a mistake. The data tells a much darker story about the rising tide of hostility facing public officials. In the 2024/25 financial year, the AFP received 951 reports of violent threats against federal politicians. That's nearly double the 555 reports filed just three years earlier in 2021/22. Scorpio isn't an isolated eccentric. He's part of an unprecedented surge in targeted harassment.
Inside the Mind of Scorpio
When you look at how this person operates, you see a mix of fixation and bizarre branding. Forensic investigators tracking the letters note a few highly specific habits. The author frequently signs off with a creepy smiley face. Instead of regular eyes, this drawing features indentations left by pressing actual bullet casings into the paper. It's a deliberate, physical threat.
The police have released images of the handwriting because the script itself is a massive clue. The writer heavily capitalises specific letters, even when they're stuck in the middle of words. If you know someone who abnormally forces capitals on the letters F, L, T, N, and H, the authorities want to hear from you.
The letters also arrive packed with newspaper clippings. The author cuts out headlines and photos of prominent people, scribbling rants over them regarding national affairs and policy decisions. This isn't just spam. It's a highly focused obsession.
Tracking a Ghost Without a Digital Footprint
Why has it taken a decade to close in? Think about how modern threats work. Most people who make threats do it online via social media or email. They leave IP addresses, device logs, and digital trails that tech units can pull apart in hours. Just recently, a 20-year-old named William James King was sentenced to seven months in prison for sending Instagram death threats to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns. He was caught quickly because his digital footprint was obvious.
Scorpio didn't make that mistake. By sticking to physical mail, he cut out the digital tracking entirely.
To beat an old-school stalker, the NSW Police Security Investigation Unit launched Strike Force Yewrangara. They teamed up with the AFP's National Security Investigations team to run forensic tests on the physical paper, ink, and clippings. After matching the handwriting across more than 100 letters, investigators now believe they are hunting a Caucasian man in his 60s.
AFP Superintendent Nathan Robertson noted that while this is a criminal hunt, there are real concerns about whether the writer has access to mental health support. Yet the primary mission remains clear: stop the harassment before the letters turn into physical actions.
The Bigger Threat to Australian Public Life
It's easy to look at a man in his 60s mailing clippings and dismiss him as a remnant of the past. Experts say that's a dangerous misreading of the situation. Josh Roose, an extremist expert and associate professor at Deakin University, points out that the volume of hostile material targeting public figures right now is entirely unprecedented.
The digital world has created a pipeline where lonely, disaffected individuals fixate on leaders. They blame them entirely for complex issues like housing affordability, migration, and the cost of living. What starts as an online obsession often morphs into real-world stalking, doxxing, and physical intimidation. Scorpio is doing via the post office exactly what thousands of angry individuals are trying to do via algorithmic echo chambers.
When public figures can't do their jobs without fearing for their safety, the democratic system begins to degrade. It makes good people walk away from public service and isolates leaders from the communities they represent.
If you recognise the handwriting style or know someone who fits this exact profile, don't stay silent. Contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 to provide information to Strike Force Yewrangara. Your tip could be the piece that finishes this decade-long hunt.
